Patrick and I were joined by my nephew Tom Roper for this visit to Ashingdon Primary Academy, in Essex. We were made most welcome by head teacher Mrs Leasure and Mr Robertson.
The whole school assembly produced some great questions:
How do you brush your teeth?
Who inspired you?
and I was able to demonstrate my tennis, albeit gently. The pupils were particularly taken with the Road2Rio challenge and were badgering their teachers to watch the full video on YouTube afterwards!
It was a full day with Years 2 to 6 all having a session of inclusive sports. I was very pleased when a Year 2 pupil who uses a wheelchair was persuaded to come out of it to join in sitting netball (as goal shooter), goalball (very brave stopping the ball) and new age kurling (adept at using the pusher). His teammates worked hard to include him, living up to our strapline of “No one left on the Bench!”
Adding in Year 2 – to accommodate the young wheelchair user – made the timings tight but we flexed it and made it work, enabling 5 year-groups to experience the fun of playing inclusive sport.
Ashingdon Primary @AshingdonAPA
A truly inspiring visit from John Willis and his team today 💪🏼. A big thank you from Year 5; we loved listening to your amazing stories, hearing how you have overcome challenges and taking part in the sporting activities. #power2inspire
Ashingdon Primary @AshingdonAPA
In Y3 we loved our power2inspire session today. We played sit down netball, goal ball and had a go at curling.
Ashingdon Primary @AshingdonAPA
Y2 have had a brilliant morning with John and his team 🏐🏅👟💛 @Power2InspireUK
Year 4 had an exciting inclusive sports workshop with John and his team @Power2InspireUK
All three of us, but particularly Tom, was bowled over by the school lunch – really tasty sausages and proper mash potato. This set Patrick and I off on reminiscing about truly awful food served back in the 70s and 80s! I take my hat off to the catering staff today who provide excellent meals on a shoestring in a very quick turnaround.
Mrs Leasure completed our day by saying she was emailing local schools in the trust to encourage them to book us while the discount is available. She said the messages were ones all schools would love to have. Thank you!
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